January 02, 2013

Texas A&M helping Manziel deal with emerging celebrity status #TAMU

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said school officials are attempting to help freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, handle his emerging profile during Cotton Bowl week while still allowing him to have fun with teammates. But it’s been a balancing act.

“Winning the Heisman should not be a punishment,” Sumlin said. “It is a completely different situation than anybody has ever had. Usually, you are looking at a player’s last game (during a Heisman winner’s bowl week). This is a redshirt freshman, a 20-year-old kid. You have to be careful heaping on too much of what the expectations are for a young man. We have to be very, very cognizant of what is going on. I think he understands that.”

Asked about his award, Manziel said other Heisman winners have told him his life “will never be the same” now that he is a recipient and he is beginning to understand what they mean.